Entebbe Mayor Gets Slice Of South Florida

June 20, 2000|By SALLIE JAMES Staff Writer

CORAL SPRINGS — After a brief visit to South Florida, the mayor of Entebbe, Uganda, has decided two things: He doesn't like the steamy humidity, and Sawgrass Mills outlet mall is just too big for one visit.

"It's huge," Stephen Kabuye , 47, said of the sprawling Sunrise mall, one of the largest shopping centers in the United States. "People from all over the world go there. In Uganda, we only have small shopping centers."

He also had a hard time finding anything U.S.-made.

"Everything says, `Made in India,' `Made in Korea,' or `Made in `Pakistan,'" said Marvin Gay, head of the Coral Springs Sister Cities Committee, who took Kabuye shopping and to a soccer game on Sunday.

"He said when you come to the United States, you want to bring home something that says, `Made in the U.S.'"

In town through Wednesday, Kabuye is visiting Coral Springs courtesy of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The visit is part of the Bureau's Multi-Regional International Visitors program. City officials were interested in hosting Kabuye because they are considering Entebbe as a sister city.

On Monday, dressed in a casual shirt and slacks, Kabuye toured Coral Springs City Hall and the police department. The purpose was to become familiar with local government.

Kabuye said much of the daily operations are similar to those in his country, although the technology was more sophisticated. Entebbe's police department is run by the country's central government.

"Theft is probably our highest crime. Murder is not so big." He said his country is wrestling with the specter of capital punishment, something Uganda now allows, he said.

Another difference? In Uganda, you don't dial "911" if you need emergency help.

"It's `999,'" Kabuye said.

Kabuye, who also visited Fort Lauderdale's beach and Waste Management on Monday, said South Floridians seem like a friendly bunch.

"Everyone says `Hi,' or smiles," he said.

He also hoped to learn more about local housing, garbage and recycling operations, land use and zoning during his visit

Uganda is located in the heart of Africa on the shores of Lake Victoria, along the equator. In Entebbe, population 74,000, fishing as well as coffee and tea farming are major industries. Like many South Florida cities, Entebbe is also a tourism town.

The town was made famous by the July 4, 1976, raid at Entebbe Airport in which daring Israeli commandos freed 103 hostages held by Palestinian terrorists who had hijacked a French airliner.

Killings and violence by the regime of dictator Idi Amin put the country in a global spotlight during the 1970s. Amin, who ran the country beginning in 1971, was driven into exile in 1979.

Kabuye will tour Coral Springs' parks, schools and hospital today. He also will receive a key to the city at the 6:30 p.m. commission meeting.

With four major daily newspapers in Uganda, Kabuye jokingly said he is used to dealing with reporters.

"The group you will never make woe with is the press," he said laughing.

Entebbe is among seven cities Coral Springs is considering for a Sister Cities program: others include Chibi, China; San Fernando, Trinidad-Tobago; Grosmarin, Haiti; Brazilia, Brazil; and Welkom, South Africa, said Steve High, vice president of the Sister Cities board of directors. High expects the city will make a selection by mid-July.

Sallie James can be reached at sjames@sun-sentinel.com or 954-572-2019.